The first step in the workshop manual for the waterfall removal shows using a tool inserted in the vents to "release" the waterfall before pulling it up at the corners. Yet I have not seen this mentioned in any of the posts I've found on removing the waterfall. Is this something new for the 2012.5+ cars or just something that is unnecessary? Thanks.

David

 

They sell more vents that way.

 

The waterfall cracks so easily when I switched to an Ash panel, for $80 Morries Aston Martin changed it because if I did it, the thing would have likely shattered.

 

I removed the waterfall in my DB9 to paint it gloss black and didn't use any tools. I began by releasing the top from the nav by releasing 2 clips, one in each corner. Then I placed both hands in the opening that was created, pulled upward and the waterfall readily came out.

 

There's fat wedge plastic trim tool sold by many places in a kit, I just insert the wedge along side and wiggle up, ski-slope/waterfall pops right out. Just make sure to get under the panel and not between the panel and wood itself. Here's a link to the same kit I use..nothing special about it except mine is orange

https://www.harborfreight.com/5-piec...set-67021.html

 

I have the same kit from Harbor Freight. Mine are red. What I'm hearing is that I don't need to worry about relasing anything from inside the vents. My waterfall is carbon fiber so should be pretty tough, but I'm going to be extra careful.

 

There's nothing in the vents to release. The AM tool is just a hook that fits into a hole in the vent, the tool then gives the tech something to pull on. I've found over the years, using this AM tool would scrap more vent surrounds when tool slips versus just using the plastic wedge watching out for the leather trim.

If you have Garmin nav, just make sure to have a Phillips driver ready, there's a safety strap with 2x screws needing to be removed from the top center speaker grill area(along with all the connectors). Once you remove the wood trim, you will then have access to these 2x screws.